Who is one of your biggest influences?

“Definitely my dad because what he went through growing up, where he decided to go right after high school – just making the choices that he made and screwing it up as bad as you can screw it up – to prison, and to where in the last 18 to 20 years he’s brought my family. It’s just his biggest inspiration. You can’t waste days and waste time. Everywhere he goes, especially in Ashland, everybody knows him. He was on the front of the newspaper when he went in jail, and now he’s a well-respected guy in our community. You’re gonna screw up, you’re gonna mess up and everybody’s gonna see it. It’s just how you carry yourself after. It’s taught me to don’t take the path that he took to begin with. He stayed on me all the time, was really hard on me because he didn’t want me to end up like he did. Just keep your head on straight.” – Debravious Simmons of Ashland

Dabravious Simmons on the best advice he’s received: “Weather the storm. I heard it in basketball. You get in these situations, and everything feels like just nothing can go right. Just weather the storm. Just buckle down and get through it. I guess it speaks for itself.” (Tamika Moore / People of Alabama)

The biggest thing his father has instilled in him?

“Just get after it. If it’s daylight, you just gotta be productive, whether you’re making money or just helping people. If you’re not making yourself or anybody else better, you’re wasting time.”

“Small compliments go a long way,” Simmons said. “A compliment will make anyone feel good.” (Tamika Moore / People of Alabama)

These are the faces and stories of people from all walks of life who call Alabama home. People of Alabama is a Red Clay Media and Alabama News Center partnership.